The analysis of the income situation of units of local self-government (entities of local government) based on achieved income, which include most of the sources of income of their own, can determine the long-term ability of these entities to finance their activities. Their own income potential allow local government units to create their own financial policy within the framework of existing law, so it is one of the important factors of sustainable local development. Among the communes, the lowest level of their own income potential distinguishes rural communes. However, these entities are highly diverse in this regard. With the socio-economic development, and especially after Poland’s accession to European structures, the functions performed by rural communes (from the typical agricultural to residential and service functions), and especially those located in the vicinity of the largest cities, are changing. Change of functions performed by rural communities, especially those located in the so-called. Metropolitan areas, translates into a change in the level and structure of their own income of these entities. The main aim of the paper is to analyze the level and structure of own income potential of rural communities in the Poznań Metropolitan Area in the years 2004-2016. Empirical studies were conducted based on data from the Local Data Bank of the Central Statistical Office, which were processed using basic descriptive statistics methods.